FEATURE:
Paul McCartney at Eighty
IN THIS PHOTO: Paul McCartney in 1969/PHOTO CREDIT: Linda McCartney
Forty: What He Means to Me
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I am now at the end…
PHOTO CREDIT: Mary McCartney
of a forty-run feature marking Paul McCartney’s eightieth birthday. On 18th June, fans around the world will mark the eightieth birthday of the greatest musician the world has seen. In the other thirty-nine features, I have looked at his music and legacy in a less personal way. I wanted to use this final feature to talk more about my experiences with Paul McCartney’s music and when it entered my life. Like so many people, it is the music of The Beatles that opened my eyes to Paul McCartney. I think the first time I heard McCartney’s voice and music was listening to early Beatles songs like Love Me Do and She Loves You. Of course, I was raised in a house where The Beatles’ music was easily available and regularly played. I followed McCartney and a solo artist and through Wings, and it occurred to me that this man who I thought I knew was completely unpredictable. By that, I sort of knew what he was capable of with The Beatles. Through the simpler love songs of their early period (1962-1965), through to the more experimental work that came after Rubber Soul (1965), he definitely staggered me as a writer and composer. The one thing that impressed me most about his Beatles work was the sheer versatility! Seemingly always writing songs and never one to stand still, this became even more pronounced after The Beatles. I think that a lot of McCartney’s solo albums and Wings stuff is overlooked or rubbished.
I think that every Wings and solo McCartney album contains something interesting. One cannot overlook the fact that McCartney is such an inventive and original songwriter. Seemingly blessed with this innate ability to construct timeless melodies and countless ideas, I was mesmerised by his versatility. From childlike songs and lovelorn ballads through to multi-part epics and complex tracks, this music spoke to me louder than anything else. Decades after I first heard McCartney on record, I am discovering songs of his that passed me by. Others are revealing their true beauty and, in some cases (such as We All Stand Together), I am reassessing my initial view (a song that I overlooked or did not give time to, I am diving into it with new passion). His music means so much to me, not only because it scored my childhood and opened my eyes to the possibilities of Pop music and McCartney genius. It has this quality and consistency that no other songwriter has. He has endured for decades because of his tireless invention and the fact that he can create brilliant albums so far down the line. 2020’s McCartney III is proof of that – one of his very best solo albums. As he heads into his ninth decade of life, McCartney will slow down and probably won’t tour as much. There is nothing to suggest he will stop anytime soon. I would love to hear a few more McCartney albums. The whole world hopes, just because of everything that has come before, McCartney will make music for many years more.
I think, if Paul McCartney were not such a nice person and one with such a strong conscience, I would not be as enamoured of him and fascinated by everything he does. Someone with a huge heart and this passion to highlight the wrongs in the world and make the world a better place, this sense of campaign, morality and respect for everyone comes through in his music. McCartney has such a common touch, even though he is a global megastar! As a human being, he is as close to a political leader that speaks for everyone as anyone. A person who is so respected and adored because he is genuine and a humanitarian, losing him will be an almighty shock. We will never see anyone else again who has the same qualities and brilliance as Paul McCartney. He has faced tragedy and loss through his life, yet he always seems to have this optimism and approach to life that is inspiring and admirable. One can say that money and security is a big reason for that, but McCartney is a human and is fallible and subject to depression. Many did not think he would continue as a songwriter and artist after The Beatles stopped. When his eponymous debut solo album came out in 1970, many reviews were scathing and spiteful. After that, he kept going and has forged this unique and untouched career! Everyone has their own reasons for loving Paul McCartney, which in itself is unusual. One would think there would be finite reasons, and yet they are countless and all different. For me, he IS music. The ultimate composer songwriter and a simply amazing singer (with a flair and knack for accents and nuance), he has scored so many important moments in my life. This forty-feature run was my way of thanking Paul McCartney for his music and what he means to me. To be completely honest, I cannot…
THANK him enough!